5 Gbps optical wireless communication using commercial SPAD array receivers

Abstract

Photon counting detectors such as single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) arrays can be utilized to improve the sensitivity of optical wireless communication (OWC) systems. However, the achievable data rate of SPAD-based OWC systems is strongly limited by the nonlinearity induced by SPAD dead time. In this work, the performance of SPAD-based OWC system with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is investigated and compared with that of on-off keying (OOK). We employ nonlinear equalization, peak-to-average power ratio optimization by adjusting the OFDM clipping level, and adaptive bit and energy loading to achieve a record experimental data rate of 5 Gbps. The contrasting optimal regimes of operation of the two modulation schemes are also demonstrated.

A Roadmap for Gigabit to Terabit Optical Wireless Communications Receivers

“…These narrower, fast output pulses are typically an order of magnitude narrower than the output pulses of other SiPMs. Since this significantly reduces ISI at higher data rates, SiPMs from onsemi have often been used to create receivers [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

“…The data for the C and J series devices with the same area and microcell size, for example, the J30035 and C30035 devices, show that the TSV process increases SiPMs’ PDE and number of microcells, as well as significantly reducing their recovery time. This means that when the transmitter operated at 405 nm the J series has been favored [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 ].…”

“…An important performance parameter for any communications system is the bit error rate (BER), which depends upon the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the receiver’s output. An approach to increasing the SNR of an OWCs or VLCs system is to use silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) in the receiver [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. These devices are arrays of microcells, containing a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), that are designed so that an output pulse is generated whenever an avalanche event occurs.…”

“…The performance of receivers containing commercially available SiPMs can be determined experimentally [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Ideally, the results of these experiments could be used to inform the selection of the best SiPMs from amongst those that have different characteristics.…”

A Comparison of VLC Receivers That Incorporate Two Different SiPMs

“…Consequently, the best possible receivers for visible light communications (VLC) [1] have a relatively wide bandwidth and best possible SNR [2]. It is this last characteristic of an ideal receiver which has motivated research into using silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) in VLC receivers [3] - [23].…”